Interlocking system for securing a printed circuit board

Abstract

An electronic component and housing interlocking system is provided. The system includes a device housing configured to hold a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes a projection from a side of the printed circuit board. The system also includes a locking member having a tab coupled at a first end of the tab to a side wall of the device housing and free at a second end of the tab such that the tab is configured to flex about the first end when the printed circuit board is slid into the device housing and the projection is pushed against the second end of the tab. The tab includes an opening configured to receive the projection after being slid past the second end such that the tab engages the printed circuit board within the device housing in a locked position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic component and housing interlocking system, comprising:
 a device housing configured to hold a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a projection from a side of the printed circuit board; 
 a locking member comprising a tab that comprises an extension of a side wall of the device housing with slots on either side to form the tab; 
 a first end of the tab coupled to the side wall of the device housing and a second end of the tab being free such that the tab is configured to flex about the first end when the printed circuit board is slid into the device housing along the side wall and the projection is pushed against the second end of the tab; 
 an opening in the tab configured to receive the projection after the projection is slid past the second end such that the tab engages the printed circuit board within the device housing in a locked position; and 
 a distal portion of the second end of the tab positioned at an opening of the device housing to engage a lid when the lid is coupled with the device housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the projection comprises an extension of a substrate of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the device housing comprises a cavity formed by four side walls and a base, and wherein the opening into the device housing is configured to slideably receive the printed circuit board such that the projection initially presses against the second end of the tab. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , comprising an additional locking member coupled on an opposite side wall to the side wall. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , comprising the lid configured to couple with the device housing such that the lid and the device housing enclose the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is positioned within the device housing. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , comprising a locking rib extending from the second end of the tab, wherein the locking rib is configured to engage with an attachment feature of the lid. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a receiving slot in alignment with a length of the tab extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the attachment feature is formed on a mating surface of the lid. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the locking rib is disposed on a surface of the tab such that the locking rib extends away from the side wall. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises nylon, polycarbonate, stainless steel, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , comprising the lid, wherein when the locking member is engaged with the lid, the lid blocks the locking member from flexing outward from the housing. 
     
     
       11. An electronic device system, comprising:
 a device housing; 
 a printed circuit board within and extending along a length of the device housing, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a first extension from a first edge of the printed circuit board and a second extension from a second edge of the printed circuit board; 
 a first locking member disposed on a first side wall and a second locking member disposed on a second side wall of the device housing, wherein the first and second locking members are configured to bend about one end to engage with the first and second extensions, respectively; 
 a first opening in the first locking member configured to receive the first extension; 
 a second opening in the second locking member configured to receive the second extension; and 
 a free end of the first locking member and a free end of the second locking member, wherein the first and second free ends are configured to engage a lid of the device housing. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , comprising a locking rib disposed on an upper portion of each of the first and second locking members, wherein the locking rib is configured to engage with a corresponding second attachment feature of the lid. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second extensions each comprise an integral portion of the printed circuit board cantilevered from a body of the printed circuit board. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , comprising gaps between each of the first and second locking members and adjacent edges of the device housing. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the locking rib is integral with the locking member. 
     
     
       16. A method of securing a printed circuit board to a device housing, the method comprising:
 slidably inserting the printed circuit board within the housing through an opening in a top of the housing; 
 securing an attachment feature cantilevered from a side of the printed circuit board with a tab cantilevered from a side wall of the device housing by flexing the tab out as a result of pressing the attachment feature against an upper portion of the tab until the attachment feature slides past the upper portion and engages with an opening in the tab; and 
 enclosing the printed circuit board with a lid and the housing by coupling the lid to the housing, wherein coupling the lid to the housing comprises engaging the lid with a distal end of the upper portion of the tab. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , comprising engaging a locking rib extending from an upper portion of the tab with a corresponding second attachment feature of a lid. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , comprising securing a plurality of attachment features with a plurality of tabs. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein securing the attachment feature with the tab comprises pushing open a snap-lock and aligning the attachment feature within a cavity of the snap-lock in a locked position. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment feature comprises an angled protrusion with an angle that facilitates gradual displacement of the tab when slidably engaging the attachment feature and the tab. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 11 , comprising the lid, wherein, when the first and second free ends are engaged with the lid, the lid blocks the first and second locking members from flexing outward from the housing. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second locking members are configured to disengage from the lid when the first and second locking members are flexed inward relative to the housing.